World Note
The world is made up of five required areas (one for each of your bonds) and several optional
areas. Most of the optional areas just provide random encounters, and those encounters happen
wherever you happen to be walking. That is, you don't need to explore most of the optional
areas. You can simply pace next to the exit door to see everything there is to see. Still,
we've mapped three of them for you (the ones at Hillsfar, Phlan, and Teshwave).
The only optional area with fixed encounters is at Dagger Falls. However, this area is
difficult, and you should probably wait until you've removed four of your bonds before
trying it.
The numbering system on the map gives roughly the order you should visit the locations in
the game. This is also the order suggested by the man at the Standing Stone (#4).
1 - Tilverton
This is where you'll start the game. See the Tilverton section for details.
2 - Tilver's Gap
The first time you travel through Tilver's Gap, you'll have to fight several hippogriffs.
3 - Ashabenford
Ashabenford is a basic "menu town."
If you search the area around Ashabenford, you'll find "a dark pit." Inside the pit you'll
run into salamanders, dark elf fighters, owl bears, and more. You'll also stumble upon the
trail of a man with a summoning gem. When you first encounter him, he'll summon a dracolich.
The next (and final) time, he'll dash the gem to the ground, summoning several salamanders
and efreet in the process. In the remains of the summoning gem, you'll find 15 regular gems.
4 - Standing Stone
When you arrive at the Standing Stone, you'll meet a gray robed man. He'll tell you, "You
presently serve four masters. Return to me when you have slain three more. Then you shall
achieve your destiny."
The robed man will also give you clues as to where you can find those masters:
-
"Seek Red to the south." (Hap, #6)
-
"Seek Green to the northwest." (Yulash, #9)
-
"Seek Black to the north." (Zhentil Keep, #10)
When you return to the robed man after removing four of your five bonds, he'll reveal that
he's really Tyranthraxus, and he'll ask you to meet him at Myth Drannor.
If you patrol the forest at the Standing Stone, you'll typically encounter something tough,
like a group of ogres. We've also heard that you can discover a lair during your patrols,
but it never happened for us.
5 - Essembra
Essembra is a basic "menu town."
If you search the area around Essembra, you'll find "a twisting cavern." Here you can
encounter salamanders, efreet, dark elf fighters, and more.
6 - Hap
On your way to Hap for the first time, there's a good chance you'll be attacked by a
trio of black dragons. So be sure to rest up and memorize spells at Essembra before
moving on. For more information, see the Hap section.
7 - Hillsfar
Hillsfar is a basic "menu town."
If you search the area around Hillsfar, you'll find an "eerie block of ruins." See the
Hillsfar Ruins section for more details.
8 - Red Plume Patrol
As long as you have the Zhentrim bond on your arm, you'll have to fight the patrol every
time you follow the trail here. To avoid them (but risk other encounters), use the
wilderness instead.
9 - Yulash
For more information, see the Yulash section.
10 - Zhentil Keep
For more information, see the Zhentil Keep section.
11 - Phlan
Phlan is a basic "menu town." If you travel here by water, you might be attacked by
pirates. However, the pirates will only attack you once. After that, they'll know better.
If you search the area around Phlan, you'll find an "unconquered part of the city." See
the Phlan Ruins section for more details.
12 - Teshwave
Teshwave is a basic "menu town," but it doesn't have a training hall available.
If you search the area around Teshwave, you'll find "some ruins." See the Teshwave Ruins
section for more details.
13 - Voonlar
Voonlar is a basic "menu town."
If you search the area around Voonlar, you'll find "a war blasted section of the city." Inside this dungeon you'll meet looters, cultists, shambling mounds, and more. You'll also run into a cult of Moander, and catch them just in time to battle a Bit o' Moander. If you haven't been to the Pit of Moander yet, then consider this a preview. The Bit is just a big shambling mound, and since there is only one, your party should be able to surround it and defeat it easily.
14 - Shadowdale
Shadowdale is a basic "menu town." We've heard that you can meet Elminster in the bar
here, but it never happened for us.
If you search the area around Shadowdale, you'll find "a dank cavern." Inside you'll meet
dark elf fighters, salamanders, owl bears, and more. You'll also discover some dark elves
trying to kidnap the magistrate's daughter. You'll have to fight two groups of dark elves,
and then a pair of black dragons, in order to rescue the maiden. Once you've succeeded,
you'll gain some random treasures from the magistrate.
15 - Shadow Gap
At the Shadow Gap you'll find an inn, but you'll quickly discover that it has come under
attack by displacer beasts. After you've defeated the beasts, you'll learn what happened
(
journal entry 58).
16 - Dagger Falls
Dagger Falls is a basic "menu town," but it does not have a training hall.
If you take the "wilderness" route to Dagger Falls from Tilverton or Shadowdale, you might
come across a farm house being attacked by giants. If you decide to "rescue" the farmers,
then you'll have to fight half a dozen ettins. If you survive that, then the farmers will
give you your "first home cooked meal in many days."
If you search the area around Dagger Falls, you'll discover a small magic shop. Inside,
you can buy wands, scrolls, potions and more. When you leave the shop, the proprietor
will tell you that "the Mulmaster Beholder Corps is rumored to be holed up in the tower
of Oxam." For more information, see the Oxam's Tower section.
17 - Myth Drannor
This is the area where the game ends. It starts with the Burial Glen. See that section for
details.